Kindergarten part 2

So here we are starting the first full week of school, and with full days. Last week, the Kindergartners just went for 3 hours and had a 1:1 evaluation slot with their teacher afterwards. We dropped them off in the cafeteria and picked them up outside the Kindergarten classrooms.

This morning, I drove Anya to school. As soon as we reached the building, she saw her new friend, Eva* and they hugged and ran towards the playground together. It was interesting watching her. She put her backpack on the ground in her classroom line and played with Eva (plus other kids). The second the bell rang, she lined up with her class. Gave me a quick hug, then waved bye and walked with the other kids to her classroom.  I almost got teary-eyed. She didn't need my help at all and seemed like such a big kid, while I stood a little ways back chatting with other parents. She has it down already. I'll give it one more week of driving her to school daily, and will then let her ride the bus. She's been itching to do it. After witnessing her this morning, I'm not worried about her knowing what she should be doing with the morning school routine. It's bittersweet for me. I love that I get to witness this important time for her and see that she's thriving, but at the same time, she's pulling away from me further, becoming more self-sufficient, and is no longer a baby, toddler, preschooler. Aaaand, now I'm teary-eyed from writing this, thinking about my now big girl.

*So this is neat. Last weekend, Chris, Anya, and I went up to Twin Falls for a hike. It's near North Bend and about a 45 minute drive from here. On our way back down to the trailhead, we saw a little girl with her dad in front of us that reminded us of Anya. She was blonde and had the same haircut. The girls immediately started talking and noticed that they both had feathers clamped in their hair in the same place (Anya has a yellow one and this girl had a pink one). They were excited to find out they were both 5 and starting Kindergarten in a few days. As it turns out, they both go to Wedgwood. Unfortunately, they aren't in the same class, but it hasn't really mattered. They always find each other during recess and have become quick friends. How random that they met on a trail kind of far from home.